Labour in warning over justice system funding after rise in court adjournments
Labour has criticised ``unacceptable'' delays in the court system as figures show a 66% rise in the number of trials adjourned due to lack of time.
Labour has criticised unacceptable'' delays in the court system as figures show a 66% rise in the number of trials adjourned due to lack of time.
The party highlighted statistics from the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service showing that for solemn trials - those of a more serious nature - adjournments due to lack of court time have increased by 47% since 2011, while summary trials for lesser offences have seen a 69% rise over the same period from 1,908 to 3,218.
The figures show a fall in the number of days Scottish courts sat from 29,470 to 28,819 at the same time as the number of jury trials called increased 59% and summary trials rose 30%.
Labour's justice spokeswoman Claire Baker MSP said: In the last Parliament, the SNP was repeatedly warned that its unpopular move to close local courts across Scotland would lead to a strain on court services elsewhere.
The rise in trials and in adjournments due to lack of court time shows just how much of a strain the justice system is currently under in Scotland.
In the new year, Holyrood's justice committee will publish its report into the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and all evidence points to the fact that they are overstretched, underfunded and in need of greater support.
It is therefore inexcusable that the SNP has decided to hit the Crown Office with a further £4 million cut in the current draft budget.''
She added: The SNP Government cannot expect to keep cutting justice budgets - be it the Crown Office, Legal Aid, or the 'safer and stronger communities' budget - and expect to retain public confidence in delivering a justice system that keeps our communities safe.
The delays in our court system are unacceptable, the budget cuts in justice system are unacceptable, and the SNP must take action to address these.''
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: There is no evidence to suggest that court closures have had any impact on the time it takes for cases to go through the courts. Latest figures show 97% of sheriff courts were offering trial diets within the optimum of 16 weeks or sooner, compared to 50% in April 2014.
The rise of reporting and prosecution of certain types of crime has put extra pressure on the courts. We have already allocated nearly £1.5 million for extra fiscals, judiciary and admin staff to help respond to delays and speed up access to justice for victims and witnesses, and are spending an extra £5 million improving efficiency of cases involving domestic abuse and sexual offences."